PNCC

Come Holy Spirit – Confirmation 2015

Frackville, PNCC /

Confirmation, the completion of the Sacrament of Baptism-Confirmation, was administered in our parish by Rt. Rev. Bernard Nowicki, Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese on Sunday, June 14th at 3 PM. Three faithful were confirmed:

  • Joseph Stephen Karvois “William,”
  • Michael William Russell “John,” and
  • Theresa Leonarczyk “Sabrina Ada.”

May the Holy Spirit fill their lives and draw them closer to Jesus each day.

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Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 3, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

The Church is essential to our faith. We cannot say, as some do, that we want Jesus but not the Church. In the Creed we affirm our belief in Jesus Christ and also in “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” The institutional Church is a key part of our faith, but there is always the danger of just going through the motions and dying on the vine. How can we produce the fruit that will show that Christ’s Church is alive and well? We do not need to be mystics like some of the great saints, but to make sure our practice of the faith, whether it is going to Mass or saying our prayers, is firmly based on a close personal relationship with Jesus. We don’t at first have to do anything but rather to be at peace in His presence, to allow Him to dwell in us. Then we can share a deep communion with Him as we receive His body and blood in the Eucharist. If we change the image from sap, we could say that His real presence in His blood gives us new life. If we do have this close relationship of the branch to the “true vine,” then it will produce good fruits especially in the way we love God and one another.

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Good Shepherd Sunday – April 26, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

Laying down His life for the sheep is the manner in which the Lord shows how much He loves us. To be the good shepherd is not in any way a simple or foolish thing. To be the good shepherd demands a lot of discipline and an awful lot of patience and perseverance. The patience comes into play when the good shepherd has to watch patiently when the sheep are slow to follow instructions, no matter how simple they may be. The perseverance is in recognizing that the sheep need care and attention, day in and day out. The Lord is truly our good shepherd. Can we really appreciate what the Lord does for us?

We are the Lord’s beloved flock. We can sit with that image and enjoy knowing that the Lord is keeping a protective watch over us. However, the Church is asking something more from us today. The Church is asking us to pray especially for vocations to the priesthood. Let us pray for the people who have given their lives to follow this vocation: the priests, the deacons. Our prayer for them can simply be a prayer of thanksgiving, thanking God for their dedication and service. Let us pray, too, for ourselves as a parish community. Let our prayer be that we will always be ready to hear the quiet voice of the Lord, the good shepherd, and follow Him. Praying for vocations is a good idea and holy thing to do.

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Institution of the PNCC – March 8, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

The PNCC in ONE, because like Christ, the head of the Church, is one, thus there is also one body in which Christ is head and the faithful as members are united. Although there are many members in the Church, the body of Christ, yet they all are one body and they are united in an inseparable unity.

The PNCC is HOLY, because Christ, her head, is holy. The fact that PNCC members do sin doesn’t destroy the holiness of the Church.

The PNCC is CATHOLIC, because Christ is the Lord of the universe. The PNCC is Catholic as she remains in the original tradition of the Apostles and continues “That which has been believed everywhere, always, by all”. Our holy orders are recognized by both the RC and Orthodox Churches. We are rooted in Scripture, grounded in Sacred Tradition and accept the Ecumenical Councils of the undivided Church.

The PNCC is APOSTOLIC, because her divine founder was the first “apostle”. The apostolic teaching guarded by the Church constitutes the essence of her apostolicity. The uninterrupted sequence and succession of the shepherds and teachers of the Church which begins by the Apostles, guarantees the truth of the Church.

The PNCC is a CONSTITUTIONAL Church. The source of sovereignty rests in each democratically organized parish, which owns, controls and administers all parish property. Ultimate and virtually complete authority is given to the Church’s legislative body, the General Synod. Between synods, the executive body known as the Supreme Council of the Church is the highest governing body.

The PNCC is a BIBLE-BELIEVING Church. A Catholic Church that believes the Holy Bible to be the divinely inspired Word of God.

The PNCC is a DEMOCRATIC Church. The poorest lay person has a voice in the parish. The laity and clergy work together, with separate spheres of responsibility in parochial affairs, and they work together, often after long heated debate, in the seniorate and in the diocesan and general synods.
Our laity is kept well informed of all that is going on in the Church. We are not perfect. We are human. But we know that our Church will, through the sacraments, make possible our growth in grace and our entrance into heaven!

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Invitation to our Lenten Retreat – A Year of Regenereation

PNCC /

Lenten Retreats in parishes and Seniorates all over the country and Canada are scheduled for this season. The retreats are only one of eight initiatives set forward by this past national Synod for “each and every parishioner to play a role in bringing about a renewed and active spiritual life in the parishes and in the entire Church” as Prime Bishop Anthony wrote in January’s God’s Field. Our Scranton Seniorate in combination with the Plymouth Seniorate will conduct its Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 21st in Dupont, PA from 11 am to 3 pm. All our parishioners are invited to participate in this national and international effort for a program built around the theme: Return to Me with Your Whole Heart. There is no charge for this spiritual exercise.

The program outline for this day of reflection and recollection is given here:

11:00 – 11:15 am – Welcome/Introduction – Bp. Bernard Nowicki
11:15 – 11:35 am – Biblical Reflection/Meditation – Fr. Carmen Bolock
11:35 – 11:50 am – Time for Silent Meditation and Prayer
11:50 am – 12:15 pm – Biblical Reflection/Meditation – Fr. Janusz Lucarz
12:15 – 12:45 pm – Light Lunch
12:45 – 1:05 pm – Biblical Reflection/Meditation – Fr. Walter Placek
1:05 – 1:20 pm – Lenten Hymns
1:20 –1:45 pm – Seven Last Words of Christ – Fr. Sr. William Chromey
1:45 – 2 pm – Private Prayer
2:00 – 2:30 pm – Penitential Devotions – Fr. Sr. Zbigniew Dawid
2:30 – 2:45 pm– Reflection on Penance – Fr. Sr. Zbigniew Dawid
2:45 – 3 pm – Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament – Fr. Sr. Z. Dawid

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Humble Shepherds – “B” – December 28, 2014

From the Pastor, PNCC /

Among the occupations in the Holy Land in the first century, shepherding had a lowly place. Because their work made them ceremonially unclean, shepherds were considered untrustworthy. The text tells us they were “living” in the fields. Their occupation required them to provide water, food, shelter, medication, aid and protection. Shepherding was strenuous, even dangerous work. It was expected that the shepherd would come between the lion or bear when one would attack the flock.

God reveals himself to the downtrodden and despised. They represent the lowly and humble who receive God’s revelation. The most obvious implication is that the Gospel first came to the social outcasts of Jesus’ Day. The entire drama that surrounds the birth of Jesus takes place with no part given to the secular or religious rulers of the land. No politicians. No celebrities. No paparazzi. No athletes. No religious leaders. He is still doing this today. God seeks the forgotten, those who society rejects or ignores – the downtrodden and dejected.

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